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drowsinessworse with Keppra
Sun, 03/30/2008 - 23:51Hi everyone- I am new to this forum and I hope somebody can give me some insight. I have been on dilantin for 26 years and now my new neurologist is having me switch to Keppra. I am still waiting for the results of my bone density scan. My biggest problem is the drowsiness and I haven't even started my full dose yet. I can barely make it through the day without caffeine in my system. I started drinking coffee the same year I started on dilantin because I couldn't stay awake in school. It didn't help that my first class of the day was physics! Anyways, I have to drink twice as much coffee in order to function normally and I want to know if anyone has had side effects that persisted after going off there original medicine? Any advice in combating drowsiness while on AED? Thanks, nancy
Comments
Re: drowsinessworse with Keppra
Submitted by nleather on Mon, 2009-11-09 - 21:35
Re: drowsinessworse with Keppra
Submitted by Deon on Fri, 2010-12-31 - 04:01
Unfortunately, each one of us afflicted with Epilepsy have different tolerances to the myriad of medications available. I fortunately found that Keppra made a major difference in my life. I was on Tegretol for about 25 years which really left me feeling exhausted everyday after waking up. My neurologist suggested I try Keppra (with my other meds) and it was like day & night. Suddenly I was seeing things clearly for the first time. It made me realise that I'd been a zombie. I could think clearer and verbalise my thoughts much quicker. I found that by leaving coffee was a very good decision as well, because my seizures have dropped from having 1 per week to being seizure free for the past 9 months. I also used to drink at least 16 cups of coffee a day with 6 teaspoons of sugar. I gradually lowered this until I eventually cut out coffee. I believe that caffeine does have a very negative effect on any person, but we suffer even more. Good Luck with your new medication and hopefully you also stop having seizures.
Unfortunately, each one of us afflicted with Epilepsy have different tolerances to the myriad of medications available. I fortunately found that Keppra made a major difference in my life. I was on Tegretol for about 25 years which really left me feeling exhausted everyday after waking up. My neurologist suggested I try Keppra (with my other meds) and it was like day & night. Suddenly I was seeing things clearly for the first time. It made me realise that I'd been a zombie. I could think clearer and verbalise my thoughts much quicker. I found that by leaving coffee was a very good decision as well, because my seizures have dropped from having 1 per week to being seizure free for the past 9 months. I also used to drink at least 16 cups of coffee a day with 6 teaspoons of sugar. I gradually lowered this until I eventually cut out coffee. I believe that caffeine does have a very negative effect on any person, but we suffer even more. Good Luck with your new medication and hopefully you also stop having seizures.
Re: drowsinessworse with Keppra
Submitted by arctix83 on Mon, 2009-11-09 - 21:13
This is a great thread. I've been on keppra for over two years now. I've always been tired with it and can't seem to stay awake past 10pm. I get 8 hrs of sleep and I'm still out of it. I might try the vitamin B6.
I think the worst part of my side effects are feeling like I have lactic acid build up in my arms all the time. My hands are so shaky and sometimes I cannot hold a pen or write. I feel like I have problems with blood sugar levels too. I get hyperglycemic very quickly. The onset is fast.
This is a great thread. I've been on keppra for over two years now. I've always been tired with it and can't seem to stay awake past 10pm. I get 8 hrs of sleep and I'm still out of it. I might try the vitamin B6.
I think the worst part of my side effects are feeling like I have lactic acid build up in my arms all the time. My hands are so shaky and sometimes I cannot hold a pen or write. I feel like I have problems with blood sugar levels too. I get hyperglycemic very quickly. The onset is fast.